Hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean's Haiti presidential bid is in limbo after the country's electoral commission said it was postponing its ruling on who will be allowed to run for office in November.

A statement from the commission, known as the CEP, said it would postpone the announcement until Friday.

The delay is the latest turn in the fledgling presidential race in the earthquake-torn country.

Earlier, Wyclef - one of dozens of candidates vying for the office - said he was in hiding after receiving death threats.

The musician disclosed the threats in a series of emails to The Associated Press.

He said he received a phone call telling him to get out of Haiti and that he was in hiding in a secret location in the Caribbean country.

The Haitian-born music star said he did not know whether the commission would approve his candidacy, but there have been questions about whether he meets the residency requirements to run.

"We await the CEP decision but the laws of the Haitian constitution must be respected," he said in one of a flurry of emails.

Later, Wyclef sent a one-word email: "Hope!"

The CEP's decisions - or lack of - sparked small protests throughout the capital Port-au-Prince. During one peaceful march near the CEP office, several dozen young men marched and sang in the rain. Later a main road in and out of the city was blocked by burning tyres.